A Portland-based pet food company has voluntarily recalled a batch of its products after a house cat in Oregon tragically died from consuming one of them, which was later confirmed to be contaminated with avian flu.
The recall affects a single batch of Northwest Naturals’ 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. The company, owned by Morasch Meats, revealed on Tuesday that the product tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, also known as H5N1 bird flu.
A Portland-based pet food manufacturer has issued a voluntary nationwide recall after a house cat in Oregon died from consuming one of its products, which later tested positive for avian flu.
Northwest Naturals, owned by Morasch Meats, announced on Tuesday that it is recalling a single batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. The batch was found to contain the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, also known as H5N1 bird flu.
According to the announcement, the affected batch was distributed across the United States through distributors in states such as Washington, Arizona, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Maryland, among others. The products were also supplied to British Columbia, Canada.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not issue the recall but confirmed that the company is coordinating with the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture reported that the cat, which was located in Washington County, Oregon, died after consuming the contaminated raw frozen pet food. Laboratory testing by Oregon State University and the US Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in the product.
The government confirmed that testing revealed a genetic match between the virus found in the raw frozen pet food and the virus in the affected animal. The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced in a Facebook post that these test results prompted the voluntary recall.
In a statement from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, state veterinarian Ryan Scholz said, “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 from consuming the Northwest Naturals raw frozen pet food.”
“This cat lived entirely indoors,” Scholz explained. Genome sequencing confirmed an exact match between the virus found in the raw pet food and the virus in the sick cat, ruling out exposure to the virus from the cat’s environment.
Northwest Naturals stated that the recall applies to products with “best if used by” dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026.
Northwest Naturals advises consumers who purchased the recalled product to dispose of it immediately and contact the retailer for a full refund.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture reported that the Oregon Health Authority and local public health officials are monitoring the household of the affected cat for any signs of bird flu.
Authorities emphasized that no human cases of avian flu have been linked to this incident.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats and dogs can be exposed to bird flu by consuming raw or undercooked meat, drinking unpasteurized milk, or eating infected or deceased birds. While humans can contract the virus through contact with infected animals, such cases are rare, the organization noted.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first severe case of H5N1 in the United States. A person in Louisiana, who had been exposed to sick and dead birds was hospitalized with the virus.
The CDC identifies mild symptoms of avian flu in humans as including low-grade fever, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and muscle or body aches. More moderate to severe symptoms can include a high fever, difficulty breathing, or altered mental awareness.
Since April 2024, the CDC has reported 65 cases of avian flu across the United States.
Source: CNN
